Citation

Al-issa I, Ismail SJ. Anxiety Stress Coping 1994; 7(3): 253-262.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1994, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/10615809408249350

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The study investigated the relationship between social support, gender and depression. Thirty male and 35 female Kuwaiti students participated in this study. Subjects were asked to list five relatives, five friends and five neighbors and to rate them on a scale of five types of social support. Results show that social support is significantly higher for males than females. The amount of perceived material-financial support by both males and females is not significantly different from other types of support. For both sexes, primary relatives (parents and siblings) are perceived to give more support than secondary relatives (uncles, aunts and cousins), friends and neighbors. The least social support is perceived from neighbors while secondary relatives and friends are not significantly differentiated from each other. Depression is higher in females than in males, showing non-significant relationship with social support. Results are discusssed within the framework of findings in the West.